How to Take Care of a Banana Plant

The large and beautiful bloom of the banana plant.

The banana plant (Musa sp.) grows to 25 feet tall with large 2-foot-wide leaves that may reach up to 9 feet long. It is valued in the United States for the tropical atmosphere it lends to landscapes, especially around pools and patios. It cannot be grown for fruit except when protected from freezing temperatures. Only in frost-free locations is there a sufficient growing period of 10 to 12 months to allow fruit to mature. The non-woody trunk of a banana plant is called a pseudostem and consists of layers of leaf sheaths. Banana plants spread by underground rhizomes that have fibrous roots.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Garden fertilizer 3-1-6
• Sharp knife

Instructions

1. Locate a banana plant where it gets unobstructed sunlight for at least six hours each day. The planting location should be well-drained, meaning water does not stand in the area after a rain. Banana plants are sensitive to waterlogged soil. Sandy soil that contains lots of organic matter is best, but banana plants are highly adaptable, as long as the soil is well-drained. The planting location should be near a water source, so supplemental water can be added during a dry period. A location with protection from high winds is preferable because the broad banana leaves are susceptible to wind damage.

2. Dig a hole with a shovel three times the width of the root system of the banana plant and three times as deep. This loosens the soil to assist with root development. Plant the banana plant at the same depth it is planted in the container or previous location. Do not add soil amendments to the soil. Backfill with the soil removed from he planting hole. Water thoroughly while adding soil into the planting hole to prevent the formation of air pockets..

3. Fertilize with a garden fertilizer having a high nitrogen and potassium content such as 6-2-12 or 3-1-6. Fertilize every eight weeks at the amount recommended on the fertilizer container label until growth slows in the fall.

4. Water the banana plant so it receives the equivalent of 1 inch of rain each week. Water the soil around the root system when applying water which may spread out 5 feet from an older plant. Do not allow the stems and leaves to get wet during the watering process to prevent fungal diseases.

5. Prune the banana plant after the first hard freeze that causes the trunk to become mushy. Cut the trunk to 6 inches from the ground with a sharp knife. In frost-free locations, the plant will naturally decline after fruiting. New plants will arise from the ground around the old plant. Cut down the old plant once it declines.

References

• Purdue University Extension; Banana; Julia Morton; 1987
• University of Florida Extension; Banana Growing in the Florida Home Landscape; Jonathan H. Crane, Carlos F. Balerdi, et. al, Revision 2005
• Florida Times Union Jacksonville; When Should I Fertilizer my Banana Tree?; Paula Lamb; Feb. 9, 2010